Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often feel the urge to clean up the screen as much as possible. The top status bar, or status bar, takes up useful space and can be distracting when watching videos or reading. However, standard MIUI or HyperOS settings don’t always offer an obvious “Hide Everything” button. In this article, we’ll look at all the available ways to control the top panel, from simple settings to advanced methods.
It's important to understand that completely removing system elements can affect the usability of the device. You can lose quick access to time, battery level and network indicators. So before making major changes to the interface of the MIUI shell, it is recommended to weigh the pros and cons. We will consider both standard tools and specialized tools for customization.
Setting up the display of the cutout and bangs
The most common user request is not to completely remove the status bar, but to mask the front camera, especially in models with a cut-out drop or bang. Android system based on MIUI allows you to change the color of the area around the camera, making it black, which visually hides the cutout. To do this, go to Settings → Screen → Cut-out control (the path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version).
Here you'll find a list of installed applications. If you choose a particular program, like a video player or a game, you can force the area around the front camera to change, which creates the illusion of a thinner top bezels, even though the pixels are still physically working. The black bar on top often looks more aesthetic than interrupting the image with a lens.
⚠️ Warning: Forced aspect ratio change for some applications may result in incorrect interface display or shifting of controls.
Some users prefer to hide the cutout completely, using software techniques that obscure the top row entirely, especially for devices with wide bangs, where the system time icons and batteries are too close to the edges, and this setup returns symmetry to the content display.
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For maximum immersion effect in games, use the Do Not Disturb mode, which also hides pop-up notifications that overlap the view.
Hiding elements in full screen mode
In Android, there is the concept of an “immersive mode” that temporarily hides the navigation bar and status bar. On Xiaomi smartphones, this mode is often activated automatically in applications that support full-screen format. However, the behavior of the system can be adjusted. Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar.
You can turn off the display of specific icons, such as Internet speed, signal strength or NFC. While this does not remove the panel itself, it becomes significantly cleaner and less noticeable. For some models, the option of hiding the status bar in certain use cases is available, for example, when reading books in the standard Mi Video or Mi Comics app.
- 📱 Go to the settings of a specific application through the menu “About the application».
- 🎨 Look for the item “Full screen mode” or “Party ratio».
- ✅ Select the Full Screen option for forced stretching.
It's worth noting that aggressively hiding items can cause you to miss an important call or message. The system notifications in the top corner are a security and communication mechanism. By disabling them, you take responsibility for missed events. In new versions of HyperOS, the notification logic has become more flexible, allowing you to hide icons but leave pop-up banners.
Use of third-party launchers
If standard MIUI tools don't meet your needs, third-party launchers come to the rescue. Replacing your standard desktop with a Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or Smart Launcher gives you extended control over the interface. Some launchers allow you to hide the status bar on your desktop, leaving it visible only in applications.
To install an alternative launcher, download the apk file from a trusted source or through the Google Play Store. Once installed, the system will request default permission to use. It is important to select Always or confirm the selection in the appropriate menu. In the new launcher settings, look for the Desktop or Interface section, where the Show Status Bar switch is often located.
But it's important to remember the limitations. Third-party launchers don't have deep system rights to hide the status bar in all applications at once. They can only remove the panel on the home screen. Global change will require deeper system intervention, which we'll talk about in the next sections. Customization through launchers is a balance between beauty and functionality.
Application of MIUI design themes
One of the safest and easiest ways to change the look of the top bar is to use themes. The Themes app on your Xiaomi has thousands of design options available, many of which offer modified system notification icons, transparent backgrounds, or an all-black status bar.
To find the right theme, open the Topic → Search app and type in queries like “Black status bar,” “Transparent UI,” or “Minimal.” Use the Preview function before applying the theme to see what the top bar will look like. Some themes only change icons, leaving the structure unchanged, while others can completely redraw the interface.
| Type of topic | The effect on the panel | Compatibility |
|---|---|---|
| Black theme | Makes the background of the panel black | Tall. |
| Transparent | It simulates transparency (depends on wallpaper) | Medium |
| Minimalistic. | Reduces the size of icons | Tall. |
| Castomium (Port) | Complete replacement of interface elements | Low (requires selection) |
When downloading themes from third-party sources (not from the official store), be careful. Unverified files may contain code errors that lead to a cyclical reboot of the interface. Data security should be a priority. Always check the author's rating of the topic and the number of downloads before installing.
What to do if the phone freezes after installing the theme?
Advanced Methods: ADB and System Commands
For users who aren’t afraid of the command line, there’s a way to hide the status bar globally with a tool. ADB (Android Debug Bridge.This method requires connecting a smartphone to a computer and enabling debugging by USB. Path to inclusion: Settings → The phone. → Press 7 times on "Version" MIUI» → Advanced settings → For developers → Debugging by USB.
Once you connect to your PC and install the drivers, you can enter a command to hide the panel in the command line, but in modern versions of Android, direct hiding of the system bar is often blocked. However, you can try commands to change density or hide specific elements through settings. for example, the command adb shell settings put global. policy_control immersive.status=* It can activate immersive mode for all applications.
adb shell settings put global policy_control immersive.status=*This command makes the system think that all running applications are in full screen mode. The effect can vary depending on the Android version and the specific Xiaomi model. On some devices, the panel will be hidden automatically in a few seconds, on others, only by swipe. ADB commands provide a powerful tool, but require caution.
☑️ Preparation for work with ADB
⚠️ Attention: Use of teams ADB To modify system settings, the interface may be unstable, and you make any changes at your own risk.
Frequent problems and their solution
During the setup process, users often encounter a situation where the panel disappears, but artifacts appear or touch buttons do not work. If after applying the theme or settings, the screen begins to behave incorrectly, the first thing you can do is reset the launcher settings. This can be done in the Applications menu → All applications → System Launcher → Clear.
Another problem is time desynchronization, so if you hid the clock in the status bar through a theme, but the desktop widget is still there, it can cause visual dissonance, and then you'd better use widgets that come with the theme, or turn off the time display in the widget. Interface consistency is important for visual comfort.
If you've used ADB and you can't get it back, resetting the developer settings or resetting the phone completely, but most often, just disabling USB debugging and restarting the device, and MIUI has a mechanism for self-repairing standard settings when critical changes are detected.
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The most reliable way to hide the panel without risk to the system is to use proven themes from the official store and customize the cutout in the standard menu.